MATAAFA IN THE LAST WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 87, 14 April 1899, Page 5

MATAAFA IN THE LAST WAR.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF VAILELE

The high chief Mataafa distinguished himself in the war of ten years' ago, when he took command of the Samoan forces after the deportation of Malietoa on December 18. 1888. About 140 German seamen and marines from the German warship Olga were landed to. take part in the hostilities against Mataafa and his warriors. They were joined by a number, of New Britain labour men from the German plantation of Vailele, under Mr Hufnagel (now under arrest on H.M.s. Tauranga). The German force, under Captain Jackel and Lieutenant Spingler, marched from Apia in the direction of Vailele (where the fatal fight occurred the other day) in order to meet Mataafa's men. Mataafa's party, it is said, on seeing the Germans quickly retired a few hundred yards inland, not wishing to interfere with white men. The sailors followed up and fided into Mataafa's people, killing a young man, the son of a chief. This happened at Fagalii, near the Vailele German station. This occurrence was more than Mataafa's men could,stand, so.they fired a volley into the Germans, killing six ami wounding others. There were said to be about 1500 Mataafa natives engaged, so that the Germans were outnumbered ten to one. The portion of the force which was at Fagalii re* tired, charging. with fixed bayonets, to the plantation station at Vailele, where they joined the other half of the expedition. A very heavy fire was poured on the force by the natives, some of whom were firing from the tops of cocoanut ti*ees. After a desperate fight the Germans were reinforced by a strong party from H.I.G.M.s. Eber, and the Samoans retired. The Germans in this engagement lost twenty men, who were killed or died of their wounds. One oi the killed was Lieut, Sieger. Thirtyseven Germans were wounded. Three months after the battle of Fagalii the historic hurricane of March 16, ISB9, occurred, and for-a time settled the Samoan cmestion. Mataafa and his so-called rebels hehaved nobly at the time of the hurricane, and risked their lives (in many cases losing their lives) in endeavourin"" to save from a frightful x death on* the coral reefs of Apia those same German seamen who but a few weeks before had been bombarding and pillaging their villages, as the British and Americans are doing now.